Lake County Home Visiting Program

A grant from the Affordable Care Act was awarded to the Lake County Public Health Home Visiting Program. This grant enabled our staff to be trained in the evidence based model called Parents as Teachers and are now Certified Parents as Teachers Parent Educators. We have implemented this program into all our visits and are excited to share this curriculum with our clients. Being a parent is hard work. Parent Educators help parents understand child development and connects them to the resources they need to make the best choices for their families.

ENROLL TODAY! Call 883-7288

Our nurses and Parent Educators provide information and referrals on a wide variety of interests to all families in our community. The program targets engaging women in health enhancing behaviors. Through the program, services are provided to families or caregivers, children in need of services due to health or developmental concerns, and helps to establish and maintain a supportive environment. When visits are in the home we can help our clients by pointing out ways they can use their environment for their own – and their children’s – benefit.

Studies show that home visiting programs have positive results for both children and mothers. These benefits range from reduced risk of pre-term labor, fewer birth weight babies, reductions in infant mortality, and better cognitive and mental health for children and their parents. By increasing our services to pregnant women and families with infants, we hope to give prevention and health education at the earliest point possible, before a child is born. Studies have shown a child will be more successful in school and in their life if they have had a Parent Educator. For more information, call Lake County Public Health at 883-7288.

Pregnant Women

Parent Educators are available to help women:

Access health care & community services

Follow through with her pregnancy

With nutrition information & self care

Recognize signs & symptoms of pre-term labor or other health issues

Prepare for labor and delivery

Help the family prepare for a new baby

Mothers

After delivery, a Parent Educator continues to serve the family. She can offer assistance with:

Breastfeeding

Support any new moms who are formula feeding, working with them to make sure it enhances the development of the child

General questions

A post- partum follow up with the new mom to ensure she is recovering and taking good care of herself

Post Partum support and information for women experiencing emotional difficulties after pregnancy.

A discussion on “Why Dads Matter”

Newborns

Newborns are fascinating people. The Parent Educator helps the family discover all the wonderful things the new baby is able to do. She provides:

Information on caring for the new baby

Answers to any questions or concerns about sleeping, crying, feeding, and loving the new member of the family

Ideas on coping with the stress of parenting in healthy ways

Ways to make a tight bond

Suggestions for Safe Sleep for Baby & Mom

Car Seat Installation and information

Children

As the baby grows, the Parent Educator provides regular screenings that help parents identify how their child is growing. The Parent Educator provides:

Regular growth and development evaluations

Assistance with special health care needs and referral services if developmental concerns are identified

Guidance on parenting and healthy discipline

Information on helping your child handle feelings

Suggestions for fun things to do with their children to help in all areas of development including social skills, language development and physical development

Family Group Connection

Family Group Connection is a group of families and friends who meet once a month. Topics are decided by the group and they help provide snacks if desired. Some of the activities have included: how to make ice cream, stamping fun, scrapbooking, Christmas picture day, healthy relationships and increasing relationship smarts, Deal or No Deal, baby item swaps, sewing projects, making earrings, baby massage, good parenting speakers, Safe & Alive and celebrations i.e., baby shower/birthdays, etc….

“If you don’t have old friends to hang with anymore, make new ones. Make new friends who have kids! Talking to other people who are going through the same things as you is important. They know the deal. They can relate.”

Mom’s Group

A group of Mom’s and friends who meet once a month usually on a Friday afternoon at the Lake Co. Public Health Conference Rm from 3-5 pm. Topics are decided by the group and they help provide snacks if they want. Some of the topics covered have been:

Make new friends who have kids! Talking to other people who are going through the

same things as you is important. They know the deal. They can relate.”

Studies show that home visiting programs have positive results both children and mothers. These benefits range from reduced risk of pre-term labor, fewer birth weight babies, reductions in infant mortality, and better cognitive and mental health for children and their parents.

By increasing our services to pregnant women and families with infants we hope to give prevention and health education at the earliest point possible, before a child is born. Studies have shown a child will be more successful in school and in their life if they have had a home visiting nurse. For more information call Lake County Public Health at 883-7288.